Every week, you’ll find on our blog class notes and a summary video from our Wednesday and Sunday tango group classes.
These video and notes are meant to help our students remember what they’ve done in class.
Dimension: Embrace - Theme: Using the right side of the embrace
Not all things are created equal, and the embrace is no different. It's asymmetrical and although we need to keep a balanced energy all throughout the embrace loop, in certain cases, we need to activate only one side of the embrace. In this class, we saw the technique and a couple of steps using the right side of the embrace - a classic corrida and variations of the grapevine.
Summary video
Beginners & improvers: corrida to the side
Top tips
- Leaders: To lead the corrida, you need to open the right side of the embrace to create space for the follower- imagine you want to take your right shoulder as far away from her as possible.
- Followers: For the corrida, you should feel a pull to your left. Take little side steps and change your weight on the spot, with your feet together.
Intermediates & up: Little rebounds backwards
Top tips
- Leaders: This is a very rhythmical step, which works marvels to mark the end of a musical phrase.
- Followers: Keep your knees together and try and pivot back and forth in this position – the step is not an ocho.
Intermediates & up: Variations around the grapevine
Top tips
- Leaders: The grapevine is a classic – to lead the basic version and any variant correctly, you need to send your partner into a corte by dissociating to the right and invading her space, pivot your hops beyond neutral and then make her step forward.
- Followers: Use dissociation and move in this order: torso / supporting leg / free leg to respond properly to the lead.
Homework
Top tips
- Beginners: Practice the corrida steps on the beat and half beat.
- Intermediates & up: Practice the dissociation needed in the grapevine by placing your weight on your right leg, dissociating your torso by 90 degrees and pivoting your hips 180 degrees. At the end of the exercise, your torso should still be dissociated compared to your hips.
